The other day at work, a girl around my age came in to get her hair all shaped up before heading back to school for the fall. She came in, skin cancerously tan, shorts inching a little too far towards her butt, keys clicking, gum smacking, walking straight past me before I could greet her or offer her a beverage, and went and sat in the seating area in the stylist's room, where she exchanged "Omg, HIIIII!!!"s with who I shortly realized was her sorority sister, whom I had spent a little time speaking to at the shampoo bowl just prior to her friend's arrival.
Nothing heavy, just polite conversation about where she went to school, what she was majoring in, etc.
She was a nice, sweet girl, innocence still fully in tact; you could tell by her smile, so genuine, as if it hadn't left her face since the day she was born.
I know it's a lot to assume about someone over a few minutes with their soapy hair in your hands, but it's surprising the things you learn about people when you find them in a place of relaxation. Some like to talk, some like the silence, some seem nervous- perhaps that I'll get water in their ears or won't wash the conditioner out thoroughly-who knows, and some remain unaffected (this is shampoo. that is all.)
By all apparent accounts, this girl simply seemed young. She too, could have only been a couple years younger than me, if that. But I felt much older standing next to her. Not in a superior, demeaning sort of way. Just that I felt like maybe my face had a wrinkle or two on it, or that my eyes maybe a littler duller than hers, a side affect of awareness that comes with the surge of heartbreak, lessons learned, lessons you're still learning; life.
I could feel the slightest pang of sadness in my gut, of what it was like before, when I smiled because that's just how my face was.
And I wondered, and hoped, that she would always stay that sweet.

Her "sister", on the other hand, could have been death herself. In fact, since I don't remember her name, we'll just call her Death. Her grand enterance into the salon, was already enough to make me tell myself, "Don't judge her just because she tans too much, drags her feet when she walks, and smacks her gum obnoxiously." No, I decided, that is simply not fair.
So, I carried on with my usual tasks, deciding to confirm the next days appointments before the day came to a close.
Unfortunately, my desk was a stones-throw away from Death, who had plopped herself on a chair near her sister, Sweet girl, who was still sitting in the salon chair getting her hair hilighted for the second time.
I was not prepared for the utterly distracting comment that would send me stumbling through my words in the middle of a voicemail I was leaving for Mrs. So-and-so, that she please let us know if she would be making her appointment tomorrow.
I could hear chatter and laughter over this and that, and then, like stepping in a pile of shit, I wasn't sure if I had actually just heard what I thought I heard.

"Oh my god, yes! I was JUST talking about how much I despise mexicans!"

I'm sorry, what?
What... did you just say?
I thought, for moment, that my mouth was going to open involuntarily, and some foul things were going to come out.
How are you so medival? So cruel? And stupid? Do you live in this century? Who is your mother? What's wrong with you?

I could feel my heart leaping out of my chest. It was time to leave the room.
I could hear them all still laughing. Sweet girls mother was there. And they were all having a ball laughing about mexicans and how lazy and useless they apparently are.

I gave myself a little talk "Okay Chels, don't lose your cool. They are very sad, ignorant people, and you cannot change that. There's no point in getting upset.
...But damnit, there IS a point in being upset. This is 2011 for crying out loud, and that girl is a part of myyyyy generation, she's a disgrace!
...Nope, no point. She, fortunately, is the minority now, with her ugly, last century racism. She will always be that way. Shampoo that bitch, and get on with your day"

I shampoo'd her. We didn't say a word to each other, and her eyes were closed the whole time. She had an heir of innocence too, but it went by a different name; ignorance.

Saw "The Help" yesterday... You should too.